percentile

noun

per·​cen·​tile pər-ˈsen-ˌtī(-ə)l How to pronounce percentile (audio)
: a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it
a score in the 95th percentile

Examples of percentile in a Sentence

His height and weight are in the 80th percentile for boys his age.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Brown failed to score double-figures in any of the Denver Nuggets’ six playoff games last season and ranked in the 10th percentile among all players in the advanced metric EPM. — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026 That is the 8th snowiest over the past 80 years, so 90th percentile with snow. — Ron Smiley, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 Cooley is an outrageously fast skater, ranking in the 99th percentile of NHL forwards for max skating speed last season. — Harman Dayal, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Investigating electronic devices has moved the office’s conviction rate into about the 90th percentile, Carter said, adding that the national rate is about 70%. — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for percentile

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of percentile was in 1885

Rhymes for percentile

See All Rhymes for percentile

Browse Nearby Words

percentagewise
percentile
percent sign
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Cite this Entry

“Percentile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percentile. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

percentile

noun
per·​cen·​tile pər-ˈsen-ˌtīl How to pronounce percentile (audio)
: a value on a scale of one hundred that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it
a percentile score of 95 is a score equal to or better than 95 percent of the scores

More from Merriam-Webster on percentile

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about percentile

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